The best Apple iPad Mini 3 plans: Vodafone v Telstra v Optus

Apple’s iPad Mini 3 scored an upgrade last week with the addition of Touch ID. Head into an Optus, Vodafone or Telstra store and you’ll spot the new tablet on sale. Good Gear Guide has crunched the numbers on the plans from Australia’s three largest telcos to find out which offers the best deals.

Please note, Apple offers the iPad Mini 3 in three storage capacities, with 16GB, 64GB and 128GB variants available. Good Gear Guide is comparing the pricing for the 64GB cellular models of the iPad Mini 3 over 24 month contracts.

Who has the cheapest iPad Mini plan

Optus is the carrier offering the Mini 3 at bottom dollar. A 64GB iPad Mini will cost $37 each month over 24 months, and for that you’ll get a monthly allowance of 100 megabytes.

This plan will only serve people who hope to use their iPad Mini on a home Wi-Fi connection. Odds are most will end up paying additional charges for going over the low data allowance.

Fortunately Optus offers 1.5GB of monthly data on its $47 plan, which is still $4 and $5 cheaper than the introductory plans from Vodafone and Telstra respectively.

Winner: Optus

Who has the best value for money plan

Finding out how far you can stretch your dollar requires a little maths. We factored in the total-per-month cost of two hero plans from each telco and calculated how much you will be spending on every megabyte of data.

The price of the iPad Mini was factored into these calculations as the aim is to determine the value of each dollar you will pay, and you will be paying for that shiny iPad Mini 3.

4GB plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone with the 64GB iPad Mini 3

• Optus charges a total of $57 per month with each megabyte of data costing $0.139
• Telstra charges a total of $60 per month with each megabyte of data costing $0.146
• Vodafone charges a total of $56 per month with each megabyte of data costing $0.137

Only a dollar a month separates Vodafone, which offers the best value 4GB plan, from Optus.

• Optus charges a total of $72 per month with each megabyte of data costing $0.0100
• Telstra charges a total of $77 per month with each megabyte of data costing $0.0093
• Vodafone charges a total of $70 per month with each megabyte of data costing $0.0085

Vodafone’s bundle pricing for the iPad Mini 3 on its 8GB plan beats the competition on price and value.

Winner: Vodafone

”I need a tonne of data” plans

Optus’ most generous data plan offers 10GB of data for $87 per month, but that’s can’t compete with the big data plans on offer from Telstra and Optus.

Telstra is charging $121 per month for a 15GB data allowance. Many will consider this plan on account of its premium Next G network.

Though if it’s data you want, you just cannot go past Vodafone. For $11 less than Telstra at $110, Vodafone is offering 25GB of monthly data. This is a steal considering the carrier has made great inroads in the quality of its network.

Winner: Vodafone

Final thoughts

Anyone interested in buying an iPad should take a serious look at their data needs before signing a 24 month contract. Going over a data plan will result in surcharges.

Apple's iPad Mini 3 is currently available from Vodafone, Telstra and Optus stores.

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